Intraumbilical transfusion

Intraumbilical transfusion

Introduction

Sometimes a fetus may not have enough blood. Without intervention it will die.

Such situations can arise in association with blood group incompatibilities or infections, and also occasionally after blunt abdominal trauma to the mother. In such cases we introduce a fine needle under ultrasound guidance into the umbilical cord and transfuse blood into the fetus with continuous monitoring.